Degasifying means in the lubrication system of elastic fluid compressors



J. E. LANCASTER Erm. 2,570,134 DEGASIF'YING MEANS IN THE LUBRICATION SYSTEM OF` oct. ,2; 1951 ELASTIC FLUID COMPRESSORS Filed June l, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 2, 1951 J. E. LANCASTER ETAL 2,570,134

DEGASIFYING MEANS IN THE LUBRICATION SYSTEM OF ELASTIC FLUID COMPRESSORS Filed June l, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I l F' G' 2 JOHN 1EQLANCASTERu MAX HAEBERLEIN INVENTORS EVERETT QSCH MACHTENB ERG J. E. LANCASTER ET AL 2,570,134 DEGASIFYING MEANS IN THE LUBRICATION SYSTEM OF' ELASTIC FLUID COMPRESSORS Oct. 2, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June l, 1949 MENU? mar loz ka/ FIG.4

G @NRM E0 TE T LnNDm CREW NET1 .AA 3 EHM HAC Y OM s. B J C T.. r l .I o m. 2v 4 E 8 m 3 9 7 l n G. .r 8 G 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS J. E. LANCASTER ET AL DEGASIFYING MEANS IN THE LUBRICATION SYSTEM OF' ELASTIC FLUID COMPRESSORS Oct. 2, 1951 Filed June l, 1949 FIGS Patented ct. 2, 1951 SYSTEM oFELAsTIC FnUli CM`1 Rnssortsl Y .lohnA E. Lanoaster, New York, N; Y.,nnrlMnx UNITEDA STATES Haeberlein,

Maplewood," Aand- Everett C."

Schlnachtenberg, Short Hills,;N.` J., assignors t0 Worthington. Pump and. Machinery Corner', ration, Harrison, N. J.,r a corporation of Dela` Ware Application June 1,-1949;fseria.l ricercaVn 11 Claims; (C1. atti-zot) This invention relates generally to elastlorluld compressors and more particularly to a means' for separating absorbed refrigerants from thel lubricant circulated in the lubrication system of an elastic fluid compressor.

While it is not intended to so limit the present invention, it is particularly applicable to centrifugal compressors used in refrigerating appa* ratus for compressing the vapors of volatile liquid refrigerants such for example as trichlorofluoromethane, methylene chloride, etc., wherein the that'of lubricating the contacting surfaces suchA for example as, acting as a` cooling mediumv for the compressor bearings, acting as inner sealing means, and hydraulically operating various con-A trols by the pressure of the lubricant.

In force feed systems, When the lubricant has the additional function of acting as an inner sealing meansor for any reason comes into `contact with the refrigerant vapor, varying quantities vof refrigerant vapor will-be absorbed andfdesorbed by the lubricant under varying conditions of `temperature and pressure.

Absorption of refrigerant vapors however adversely affects the physical properties of the lubricant. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to design the compressor whereby the absorption will be minimized or means will be provided to remove the absorbed refrigerant or a combina# tion of both are provided.

Where the system is constructedto minimize the absorption elevatedl pressures and temperatures may be chosen sol that at the equilibrium'A point for a given temperature and pressure, that is, the point Where the refrigerant vapors going into the lubricant will equal the amount of refrigerant vapors escaping from the lubricant, the

absorbed refrigerant vapors will not adverselyaffect the physical properties ci the lubricant being used,

However, it has been found that in systems of this type wherein elevated pressures are utilized that small differences in pressure must be maintained in different sections of the lubrication sysJ ten'las any large'pressure dropswill cause a flashing orefervescingpf the lubricant due lto `the escapel of absorbed refrigerant-Vapor- 11,1-` GGG thatwproducesf a lubricant having a. Whiplik? 9?,

foarnlike consistency and it cannot` beupplnped through ithelubrication system ,in this condition.

1Where this occursrin the system Vthe lubricant mustlbe separated: fromthe refrigerant vapor, rehabilitatediand thereafter `returned for,v reuse.

Accordingly, it is an ,object of the presentinf-,

vention 'to provides.' novel arrangement. whereby f the amountioffrefrigerant yapor absorbed by the lubricant mayfbe substantially controlled,

it isanother object'of the. present invention to provide a meansfor.'degasifyingzand rehabili-A tating lubricant'twhich hast passedinto ,a reduced; pressure zone forreuse` inthelubrication system,

Itis another obj'ectof4 the: present invention` tof control the" pressure inthe" :lubrication system not"underreducedpressure `so that there `will bleA small differential pressures therein.

Witlfrthesela'n'd otherobjects in View as may". appear from the l`accolnpanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construc` described nfoonneotion'wltnfrth-e accompanyingv drawings, showing*adegasifying' means in the' lubrication `systen'l 'of elastic'ui'dcompressors ofV a preferred forxn 'embodying-theinvention, and

the features formin'gtheinvention will be specif# really Apointedy-'out inthe claims:

In the drawing's ligu're'A 1 iS adigiammt Sktch of a. typical compressor "systin' l Figure 2 is `aparti'al scti'onof tl'ieinboard'end' Figure `5 is a partial; 'orossssectlon through the" 3 that while this type of compressor is shown and described that any typical compressor utilizing a lubrication system where the lubricant will contact the refrigerant resulting inabsorption and contamination ofA the lubricant would suiice to describe this invention.

The lubrication system supplying the lubricant indicated in Figure 1 showsl a fully enclosed oil or lubricant reservoir 'I formed byan upper portion 8 and a lower or sump portion 9, mounted on the outboard or thrust bearing end of the compressor I. A balance line I is provided which communicates at one end with a filter chamber II having a strainer I2 located in the upper portion 8 of the reservoir l and at the other end opens into the suction inlet I3 of the compressor l whereby means is provided to balance the pressure in reservoir 'I and to return refrigerant vapor released by the lubricant in the reservoir to the suction side of the compressor to avoid loss thereof. Strainer I2 is provided to prevent the escape of oil vapor which develops in the reservoir 1.

- The lower or sump portion 'I carries the service pump I4 and the auxiliary pump I5 utilized for supplying oil or other lubricant therein at high pressure to the lubrication system. Service pump I4 and the auxiliary pump I5 are preferably rotary pumps, although other types of pumps suitable for this purpose may be utilized.

Auxiliary pump I5 is driven by a shaft I6, connected to an electric motor I'I and is utilized to provide lubricant at 'high pressure to the lubrication system when starting up, shutting down or in case of failure of the service pump I4. An automatic pressure switch (not shown) being provided to start the auxiliary pump motor I1 when the pressure in the service pump I4 falls below a predetermined level.

Figure l further shows the rotor 2 having a bevel gear I` at the end thereof which drives a stepdown bevel gear I9 fixedly connected to a shaft 29 which is in turn connected to the service pump I4., Thus means is provided for driving the service pump|4 for as the rotor 2 turns when the compressor I is started up it drives bevel gears I8 and I9 rotating the shaft 2E) which in turn drives the lservice pump I4.

Oil or other lubricant will accordingly be drawn from the lower or sumppvportion 9 into an opening 2I in the service pump I4 as it rotates. It is discharged from the servicerpump at high pressure into a conduit 22 having a check valve 23 therein.V Thereafter the oil is forced through a four-Way by-pass valve 24 into a strainer` member 25.A It is returned from the` strainer member 25 to the four-way by-pass valve 24 and is then passed simultaneously to arpressure control assembly 25 provided to. by-pass a quantity of lubricant back to the reservoirto maintain a Xed differential pressure across the bearings of the service pump I4 and to a lubricant or oil cooler 21. It is led from the cooler 21 to the high pressure line 28. High pressure line 28 in turn conducts the lubricant to various portions of the compressor I which utilizes the high pressure lubricant such as line bearing 5 and thrust bearing 6, etc., which-y are supplied by their respective conduits 29 and 3U, etc.

The degasifying system may be divided into two portions, one portion o f thersystem lying inwardly of the linebearing 5 and the other portion of the system lying outwardly of the line bearing 5. The first portionA of the system operates at elevatedpressuresand therefore cannot `vcant is passed to a zone of reduced pressure as is hereinafter described.

Line bearing 5 is indicated in Figure 2 and is constructed and arranged to coordinate with these two portions of the system in that it passes the greater portion of the lubricant to the first portion of the system or inwardly of itself.

Figure 2 shows a portion of the inboard end of compressor I having a casing 3|, and the final stage impeller 32 carried by the rotor 2. Rotor 2 passes outwardly from the casing 3i to the coupling 3 shown in Figure l through a distributor or lantern gland 33 mounted in the inner wall 34 of the inboard end cover portion 35 of the casing 3l and through the line bearing 5 mounted inan innerv line bearing support 33 and an outer line bearing support 3l supported in turn by the outer wall 3S of the inboard end cover portion 35. A substantially annular rst chamber 39 is formed between the inner wall 34 and the outer wall 38 around the rotor 2 passing there through.

A second chamber 40 is formed outwardly of the. line bearing 5 by a line bearing housing 4I iixedly connected to the outer wall 38 of the inboard end cover portion 35 by suitable means such asbolts 42.

Figure 2 further shows the distributor or lantern gland 33 constructed and arranged to serve the dual purpose of cooling and dissipating theheat of the discharge Vapor of the final stage lying inwardly thereof as is more fully shown and described inV co-pending application Serial No. 56,946 and of controlling the amount of refrigerantvapor being compressed that is supplied to the rst chamber 39 and also of maintaining the rst chamber at a pressure above suction inlet pressure to aid returning mixed lubricant and refrigerant vapor therein to the reservoir which is under suction inlet pressure through the-connection of the balance line I9. v .This is accomplished by a conduit 43, a fragmentof which is shown in Figure 2 which has its inlet (not shown) at any predetermined point withinrthe compressor casing 3l where the pressure is greater than suction inlet pressure and its foutlet connected to passage 44 leading to the distributor or lantern gland 33 all of which is fully shown and described in the co-pending application Serial No. 56,924 now abandoned. Passage 44 passes through the inboard end cover portion 35 to the distributor or lantern gland 33 which is provided with an annular passage Ai5 on its outer perimeter 'into which the refrigerant vapor is delivered. A plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced openings 43 connect the annular passage i5 with an inner annular lantern'gland passage 41. The innerrannular lantern gland passage 4'! extends aboutV the rotor 2 and if it is desired the inner surface of the gland 33 may be serrated as shown at 48 to facilitate the distribution of the refrigerant Vapor delivered thereto along the rotor 2 in both directions. A Inwardly of lantern gland 33 is an annular gas collecting lchamber 49 which serves to collectthe discharge vapors leaking outwardly along the rotor 2 from the last stage on the compressor stage and inwardly along the rotor 2 from the other end by the closure `plate 10xedly con-. nected in uid tight engagement to the lower housing by suitable means such as studs 8| and nuts `82. Chamber 80 is also provided with an- Y inlet port 83 and a return and balancing port 84.

A piston `85 is slidably mounted in the( said chamber 80| and is connected to one end of a valve stem 88. Valve stem V88 extends through the valve guide 13-into bore 12 in the upper housing 68 and is fixedly connected at its other end to ayalve head 81. Valve head 81 is provided with a rubber-like insert 88 on the under side thereof for air tight engagement with valve seat v89 formed on the4v flange portion 85 ofthe shutoff valve. Thus as the piston 85 slides inwardly and outwardly the valve stem 85 and the valve head 81 will move accordingly opening and closing the v alve port 1|.

.fA piston returning spring 98 is mounted about the valve guide 13 and abuts the flange 14 at one endand the undersurface of the piston 85 at the other-end. It will hold the piston in a closed position when the compressor is not in operation or when the pressure in :the lubrication system drops below the tension or force exerted-by the return spring 98.

. High pressure lubricant is delivered to the shutol Valve by a conduit 28a connected to the high pressure line 28 and threadably engaging the inlet port 83 of the chamber 8U. Thus high pressure lubricant will enter therein when the lubrication system is put into operation and will eX- pand uniformly against the piston 85, forcing the piston inwardly in the chamber 88 and compressing the piston returning spring 98. This will cause the valve stem 86 and valve head 81 to move. inwardly, opening the valve port 1|. As long as the pressure in the lubrication system remains higher than the tension or force exerted by the compressed piston returning spring 98 the valve port 1| will remain open. However, when the pressure drops below this predetermined point the valve port 1| will close, airtight closure being effected by the rubber-like insert 88 asit seats against the valve seat 89.

Side member 19 formed on the upperhousing 68 is provided with a flange 9| which is Vconnected to a transfer conduit 92 having its outlet connected to a gas separator 93 indicatedV in Figure 2 but more clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Gas separator 93 is substantially block-like in structure and constitutes a chamber 94 having a series of trays 95, 98, and 91 spaced vertically therein and supported by their respective brackets 98, 99, and |88 struck from the inner wall `|V| ofthe chamber 94. The trays are identical in design and are provided with spaced perpendicular baffles |82` With openings |83 therein. Overflowkoutlets |94 are provided on each of the trays but the trays are so positioned on their respective brackets that the openings |94 arespaced at opposite ends to provide the longest travel for lubricant to pass through to separate as much gas as possible therefrom before Vreturning it to the lubrication System as hereinafter described.

A*The upper portion of the gas separator .93 is provided with a iirst outlet |85 which is connectedto a leadoff pipe or venting line |96. Only a-ffragment ofventing line |88 is shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, as the venting line |06 may be led to any suitable location which will allow the released or separated refrigerantvapors to pass harmlessly to atmosphere.

At the lowermost portion of the. chamber 9|! of the gas separator 93a second outlet |01 is provided. Threadably connected thereto is a con-,

by to the compressor by suitable means such as.

bolts I|3 as is clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. block-like housing` ||4 having a chamber ||5 therein comprising a float section I6 and a pump section ||1.v The iioat section ||E is positioned slightly above the pump section ||1 and is pro-'4 vided with sloping walls ||8 so that any lubricant which will enter the iioat housing ||0 asi hereinafter described will tend to settle inv thev pump section |1 of the chamber ||5.

The connecting conduit |98 connected to the'l float housing l| l0 has its outlet |99, into the float. Rehabilitated;

section ||5 of the chamber ||5. lubricant may thus iiow by gravity'flow from the gas separator 93 into the float section I6 via the connecting conduit |98 and will tend to pass to the pump section I1 oi the chamber ||5 irst' due to the sloping walls ||8 on the float section H6.

Pump section ||1 of the chamber ||5 contains a pump I9 therein, and although shown in .its preferred form as a rotary pump may be any suitable pump easily purchasable on the openf Pump l|9 is connected to a shaft |28 market. which is rotated by any suitable prime mover I2 such as an electric motor.

The float section ||6 of the chamber ||5 con-l tains a float; lever mechanismV responsive to the;

level of the lubricant in the iioat housing which actuates a by-pass valve arrangement formed integrally with the oat housing and more fully shown and described in the co-pending applica-j tion Serial No. 145,559 led February 21, 1950,4 now abandoned. i

Thus, Figure 5 shows a float |22, of any suitable type easily purchasable on the open market connectedto a iloat arm |23 which is pivotally mounted at |24 to a bracket |25 formed on the by-pass valve assembly |26.

vBy-pass Valve assembly |26 is a substantially at closure-like piece with aside arm |21 formed integrally therewith. On the underside of said side arm |21 is a valve body |28 and a valve stem guide |29 connected to the side arm `|21 by suitable means such as bolts |35. The by-pass valve assembly |26 is provided with a by-pass passage |30 which communicates between a by-pass con: duit |3| at one end and a by-pass chamber |32 at the other end, formed in the side arm portion |21 of the by-pass valve assembly. Chamber |32 communicates in turn with a valve .chamber |33 by means of a valveport |34 in the valve body |28 lying in the axial line of the chamber |32.

Valve chamber |33 is formed by the valve body |28 having an annular hollowed portion which is engaged and closed by the valve stem guide |29 when both-members are assembled and i'ixedly ginected to theside arm |21 by means of bolts In Figure 5 it has a substantially` armies Valve guide |29 is provided with a bore |36 therethrough wherein a valve head |31 isslidably `mounted for-opening and closing the valve port |34. Valve head |31 is connected to a valve stem 4|38 which is in turn pivotally connectedat |39 to the float arm |23. `Thus as the iloati|23 rises Aand Vfalls with the level of the lubricant valve stem |38 will be` moved upwardly and downwardly .moving valve head |31 accordingly which will ,openthe valve port |34 and allow fluid to pass .from .the by-pass .chamber |32 into the valve chamber |33 when the lubricant is too low in the oat housing and close 4to `prevent lubricant from by-passing into the .valve chamber when the lubricant is hightherein.

A.Anloveriiow opening |4i|.is,provided in the valve chamber |33 threadably connected .toanoverow z.pipe |.4| .so that any `fluid by-passed when the valve `port |34 `is opened will be returned to the chamber of the float housing.

Arlllingopening A|42 and alling cap |43 are lprovided for the iioathousing H4 .to supply lubri- .cant to .the float housing when starting up. `A .sight gauge |44 being utilized to determine the level therein.

.The lubricant will be `forced out of the float 'housing Il() at system pressure as ishereinafter described into `a conduit v|45 which passes the lubricant to a lubricant or oil cooler |46 which may be any suitable type of heat exchanging `mechanism easily purchasable on the open market. Thelubricant will pass from the cooler |46 to a, return conduit |41 provided with an oil return check valve |48 therein.

.By-,pass conduit 3| is shown in Figure 1 as beingconnected to conduit |41 between the cooler .[46 and the check valve |48. It being understood that it may be connected in conduit |45 without .changing the operation of the by-pass valve assembly |26. Fluid discharge fromlpump |99 will be returned to the float housing .via conduit 13| when .the valveport |34 is opened pursuant .tothe rise and fall of the float 22.

Oilreturn check valve |48 is indicated in Fig- .ures l and 2 of the drawings but more clearly v .shown 'in Figure 6 asbeing substantially cylindrical in shape 4having a body member |49, a 'Sylphon bellows support member |50, an upper clilosure member `|5| and alower closure member "Thelbody member |49 is substantially tubular lhaving an inner bore |56 provided with a piston .type valve head |54 slidably mounted therein. "Connectedbetween the valve head |54 and the Sylphon bellows support member |50 is a Syl- .phon bellows member |55 .which forms in the inner bore |53, an inner hollow chamber |56. The innerbore 53 receives the support member |50 .and the upper `closure.member I5! in connecting relationship whereby the ,support member 5|), the .upper closuremember I5! and the bodymember .T49 are held in .iluid .tight relationship .by suitable means (not shown).

Inside thehollow `chamber |.53.is a valve stem flfixedly connectedand .movable with the valve head `|54 which extends upwardly through the hollowchamber, .passing through a rst opening `1.58m the'support member 15|) and through a sec- :ond smaller valve stem-guide opening |59 in the upper-closure `member |5| -intoan upper chamber L6!) which can communicate andpassiiuid downwardly to the yhollow chamber |56along thevalve Mountedabout the `valve-stem l5 `in the hollow chamber .isa -.valve returning spring |f6| 'which ings.

In the inner bore |53 an inlet port |62 is provided .which threadably engages return conduit A|41 whereby returning lubricant willbe passed into Athe .inner bore l 531to ,act uniformly against thepiston-like valve head |54.

At the'lower portion of the inner bore a valve plate 63is provided with a valveport |64 therein intheaxial line ofthe` valve head |54. Thus,.as K'the valvehead|54 is moved up and down inthe inner bore |53, valve port |64 will be openedand closed. To'insure air tight orfluid tight engagement between'the -valveport |64 andthe Vvalve head"|54, `a rubber-like insert '|65 is provided on the valve head |54 which engages a valve seat A|66 formed as a small annular upwardlyfextending projection on the valve plate |63.

The lower closure member |52 engages the body member |49 wherebythe valve plate |63 is held between these said members which are 'heldin uid tight engagement with each other by suitable means such as bolts |61.

Lower closure member |52 is provided with a lower returning chamber |68 which communicates with the inner bore |53 through the valve port |64 whereby when the Valve port |64 is Yopen fluid will pass 'fromthe inner bore |53 to the chamber |68. Chamber |68 is in turn connected to returnpassage |69 whichinturn communi- Cates with the lubricantreturn conduit 52 described withVN that portion of the system lying in- `wardlyofthe line bearing 5. Thus the rehabilitated lubricantwill be returned from this portion 'offthe'degasifying system tothe lubricant reservoir to be received in the lubrication system.

rA'balanced or connecting `passage '|10 is 'prolvided in *the oil return check valve |46 which `opens' at'one end'in the return passage |69 and latthe 'other 4end with upper chamber 60.` "Thus, rwhateverpressure prevails 'on the reservoir side of thescheck` valve will be distributed via thepas- `sage|?10"to theupper chamber |66 whichpasses iitdownwardlyfalong the valve stem '|51 through lthe `'opening `|59 into the hollow chamber "|56 whereby the lubricant may act uniformly against the upper or inner side of the piston. valve head |54. Since returning lubricant will enter and act against the lower surface a diiferentialpressure arrangement will be developed such that the pressure from the pump or float housing .side of the check valve must always be greater than the .reservoir side to allow the fluid to .return tothe `lubrication system.

will occur giving the lubricant a whip-like consistency. It will not, however, .tend .to pass through the tortuous opening 59 or the passage 58but will droplby-gravity `flow through the dash pot63 Yintothe shut 0E valve 64 which will be automatically openas long as there is pressure in the lubrication system as above described. It

will also pass outwardly from the shut off valve 64 through the side member I9 and transfer conduit 92 into the gas-separator-by gravity fiow lvvhereA` it is deposited on the uppermost tray 95 `in its voluminous whip-like form. VAs the lubricant separates from the foam or effervesced porltion it will fill the lower portion of the tray 95 passing through the openings |03 in the bales .'|02,to.`th'e outlet |04 to the lower tray where the process is repeated until it is passed to the outlet |01 in the lowermost portion of the gas separator 93. Connecting conduit |08 then leads the rehabilitated lubricant to the oat housing I Therefrigerantvapor liberated in the gas separator 93 mill be 1P-d off to 'atmosphere-through' the ventpiping- |06.Y

AIn the oat housing A| the lubricant will tend to settle towards thepump .portion |1 and as the pump ||9 is rotated by the prime mover |2| and driving shaft |20, the oil will be drawn into A.the pump through opening |1| shown inrFigure 1 A,and discharged at system pressure or at a pressure sufficient to overcome Athe differential pressure formed Vby the return spring |6| and the vWhile one form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is obvious that those skilled inthe art may vary the details of construction as well as the precise arrangements of parts' without departing from the spirit of the invention' and therefore it will be understood that the'invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangements of parts shown but maybe widely modified within the invention de =ned by the claims.

I What'is claimed is: Y Y

1. In an elastic iiuid compressor having a casingfa rotor shaft extending through openings on either side of said casing, a thrust bearing and a line bearing outwardly of said casing to supvport the rotor shaft, and a lubrication system including a fully enclosed reservoir about said thrust bearing and mounted to said casing in substantially air tight engagement, a service pumpgin said reservoir, said service pump connected to and operated by the rotor for delivering lubricant at high pressure to said lubrication system, means connecting said reservoir to the suction side of the compressor, and means for Vconducting high pressure lubricant to said line bearing, the combination with said lubrication system of, a first chamber between said line bearing and said casing communicating with the fluid being compressed, a second chamber outwardly of said line bearing, said line bearing being constructed and arranged to deliver lubricant-f `jiiuid tosaid rst and second chambers, means for returning mixed lubricant and fluid being compressed to .said reservoir, means for degasi- "fying, rehabilitating and returning lubricant from said second chamber to said reservoir, and

l2 Y means connected between said last mentioned means and said second chamber normally maintained open when lubricant at high pressure is being delivered to said line bearing to collect lubricant from said second chamber and pass it to said last mentioned means.

2. In an elastic fiuid compressor having a casing, a rotor shaft extending through openings on either side of said casing, a thrust bearing and a line bearing outwardly of said casing to support the rotor shaft, and a lubrication system including a fully enclosed reservoir about said thrust bearing and mounted to said casing in substantially air tight engagement, a service pump in said reservoir, said service pump connected to and operated by the rotor for delivering lubricant at high pressure to said lubrication system, means connecting said reservoir to the suction side of the compressor, and means for conducting high pressure lubricant to said line bearing, the combination with said lubrication system of, a iirst chamber between said line bearing and said casing communicating with the fluid being compressed, a second chamber outwardly of said line bearing, said line bearing being constructed and arranged to deliver lubricant fluid to said first and second chambers, means for maintaining said iirst chamber at a pressure above the suction pressure of the compressor, and said second chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure, means for returning mixed lubricant and fluid being compressed to said reservoir, means for degasifying, rehabilitating and returning Vlubricant from said second chamber to said reservoir, and means connected between said last mentioned means and said second chamber normally maintained open when lubricant at high pressure is being delivered to said line bearing to collect lubricant from said second chamber. and pass it to said last mentioned means.

Y3. In an elastic Huid compressor having a casing, a rotor shaft extending through openings on either side of Ysaid casing, a thrust bearing `and a line bearing outwardly of said casing to support the rotor shaft, and a lubrication system including a fully enclosed reservoir about said `thrust bearing and mounted to said casing in lsubstantially air tight engagement, a service pump in said reservoir, said service pump con'- nected to and operated by the rotor for delivering lubricant at high pressure to said lubrication system, means connecting said reservoir to the suction side of the compressor, and

means for conducting high pressure lubricantto said line bearing, the combination with said lubrication system of, a first chamber between said line bearing and said casingcommunicating with the fluid being compressed, a second chamber outwardly of said line bearing, said line bearing being constructed and arranged to deliver lubricant uid to said first and second chambers, means for maintaining said rst chamber at a pressure above the suction pressure of the compressor, and said second chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure, a first dash pot connected to said rst chamber to collect mixed lubricant and fiuid being compressed, a return conduit connected to said first dash pot for returning mixed lubricant and fluid being compressed to said reservoir, a second dash pot connected to and forming part of said second chamber, means for degasifying, rehabilitating and returning lu`- ricant from said second dash pot to said return 9.11.6! daSh pt and Said last mentioned means normallymaintained open by lubricantat highpres- .sure from said lubrication system to allow .ilu-

bricant collected from said second chamber to ,pass to said last mentioned means.

4. In an elastic fluid compressor as claim in maintaining said shut-off valve open when the compressor is in operation.

5. In an elastic fluid compressor having a casing, la rotor shaft extending through openings;

on either side of said casing, a thrust bearing and a line bearing outwardly of 4said casing to 4:support the rotor shaft, anda lubrication system including a fully enclosed reservoirabout said thrust bearing and mounted to said casing in substantially air tight engagement, a service pump `in said reservoir, Ysaid-'service pumpcconvnected to and operated bythe rotor Wfor delivering lubricant athigh pressure to said lubrication system, means connecting said reservoir i to thevsuction side of thecompressor, andzmeans for conducting high pressure lubricant to said line bearing, Vthe combination with said lubrication system of, a first chamber between said line bearing and said casing communicating with the fluid being compressed, a second chamber outwardly of said line bearing, said line bearing being constructed and arranged to deliver lubricant fluid to said rst and second chambers, means for maintaining said rst chamber at a pressure above the suction pressure of the compressor, and said second chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure, a rst dash pot connected to said first chamber to collectmixed lubricant and fluid being compressed, a return conduit connected to said first dash pot for returning mixed lubricant and fluid being compressed to said reservoir, a second dash pot connected to and forming part of said second chamber, a degasiiier including means for separating, rehabilitating and returning lubricant to said return conduit, and a shut-off valve connected between said second dash pot and said degasil-ler normally maintained open by lubricant at high pressure from said lubrication system when the compressor is in operation to allow lubricant to pass from said second dash pot to said degasifier.

6. In an elastic fluid compressor as claimed in claim 5 wherein said degasii'ler includes, a gas separator connected to said shut-off valve to receive the mixed lubricant and fluid being compressed from said second dash pot, means in said gas separator for allowing freed fluid to pass harmlessly to atmosphere, a float housing connected to said gas separator for receiving rehabilitated lubricant therein to be returned to said return conduit, a pump in said float housing, a conduit connecting said pump to said return conduit, an oil return check valve adapted to be opened when the pressure in said conduit is raised above the pressure in said return conduit, and means for by-passing lubricant fluid when the level of said lubricant in the float housing drops below a predetermined minimum in said float housing.

7. In an elastic fluid compressor having a casing, a rotor shaft extending through openings on either side of said casing, a thrust bearing and a line bearing outwardly of said casing to support the rotor shaft, and a lubrication system includ- 2.14 ing ra ii'ully enclosed ireservoir about said :thrust .bearingand mounted tosaid casing inf-'substantially air tight engagement, `a service pump :in said reservoir, `said service `pump connected to vand operated bythe rotor for delivering :lubricant at high pressureto said lubrication system, means connecting said reservoir to the suction Asidelo'f the compressor, and means for conductinghigh pressure lubricant to said line bearing, the combination With said lubrication-system of, a `first chamber between Vsaid line bearing aand said casing communicating with the fluid being compressed, a-second chamber outwardly Vof, said Vr'line bearing, saiddine ,i bearing beingconstructed and arranged to deliver lubricant liuid to said first and second chambers, means connected .'toany discharge stage of said compressor comrrminicating with said first chamber for maintaining said first chamber `at a pressure above suction pressure of the compressor, andsaid :second chamber at substantially atmospheric ':pressure, a first dash pot connected to :said

irst chamber to vcollect mixed lubricantand fluid being compressed, a return conduit connected to said first dash potforreturning mixed lubricantand fluid being compressed tosaid're- `servoir, a second dash pot `'connected to and forming part of said second chamber, a degasier including means for separating, rehabilitating and returning lubricant to said return conduit, and a shut-01T valve connected between said second dash pot and said degasirler normally maintained open by lubricant at high pressure from said lubrication system when the compressor is in operation to allow lubricant to pass from said second dash pot to said degasier.

8. A degasifying system for the lubrication system on elastic fluid compressors including a fully enclosed reservoir in said lubrication system connected to the suction side of said compressor, and a line bearing receiving lubricant at high pressure from said lubrication system comprising, a first chamber inwardly of said line bearing communicating with the fluid being compressed, a second chamber outwardly of said line bearing communicating with atmosphere, said first and second chambers so constructed and arranged with respect to said line bearing as to receive lubricant therefrom, means connected to said first chamber for returning lubricant directly to said reservoir in the lubrication system responsive to the differential pressure in said first chamber, a gas separator, means connecting said gas separator to said second chamber normally maintained open by lubricant from said lubrication system delivered thereto at high pressure when the compressor is in. operation to allow lubricant received in said second chamber to pass freely to said gas separator for rehabilitation, and means connected to said gas separator to collect rehabilitated lubricant from said separator and return it to the reservoir in said lubrication system.

9. A degasifying system for the lubrication system on elastic uid compressors including a fully enclosed reservoir in said lubrication system connected to the suction side of said compressor, and a line bearing receiving lubricant at high pressure from said lubrication system comprising, a iirst chamber inwardly of said line bearing communicating with the fluid being compressed, a second chamber outwardly of said line bearing communicating with atmosphere, said first and second chambers se constructed and arranged with respect to said line bearing as to receive lubricant therefrom, a rst dashpot for -said rst chamber to receive mixed lubricant and :duid being compressed from said rst chamber by gravity flow, a return conduit having one end connected to said dash pot and the other end Yconnected to said reservoir to provide communication between said rst chamber and said reservoir, means for maintaining a constant positive differential in said first chamber with respect .'to said reservoir whereby fluid will be forced :from said rst chamber to said reservoir, a second dash pot communicating with said second chamber to receive efervesced lubricant and fluid being compressed from said second chamber by gas separator, and means connected to said gas separator to collect rehabilitated lubricant from said separator and return it to the reservoir in v said lubrication system.

10. A degasifying system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for maintaining a constant diierential pressure in said rst chamber in- -cludes a conduit connected between any discharge stage of said compressor and the first chamber to provide communication therebetween. V

` 11. A degasifying system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means normally maintained open includes, a shut-01T valve, and a conduit connected between said shut-off valve and the lubrication system to deliver lubricant under pressure to said shut-off valve when the compressor is in operation for maintaining said shut-off valve open.l

JOHN E. LANCASTER.

MAX HAEBERLEIN.

EVERETT C. SCHMACH'I'ENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,361,393 Freeman et al Oct. 31, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 574,873 France July 21, 1924 

